Friday, April 15, 2011

Day of Silence for LGBTQ Teens

LGBTQ teen suicide & bullying are epidemic in America.Day of Silence is coordinated nationally by GLSEN (theGay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network). This is aday in which students from around the country take avow of silence to bring attention to homophobic, anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender name-calling,bullying & harassment faced in schools by students,teachers & other school staff. Over 500,000 studentsfrom nearly 6,500 junior high & high schools in all 50states & Puerto Rico have participated over the years.LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attemptsuicide than their heterosexual peers. Over past year,numerous teens have taken their own lives after facingbullying incidents. For More Info: glsen.orgAccording to statistics provided by GLSEN:More than 85 percent of LGBTQ students have been verbally harassedNearly 20 percent of LGBTQ students were physically assaulted by their peers @ school...Almost 40 percent of LGBTQ students reported that faculty & staff never intervene when homophobic language is used in their presence...

Nearly 30 percent of LGBTQ students reported missing at least one entire school day because they felt unsafe

1 Comments:

Theresa Cho said...

Today April 15th is the National Day of Silence. A day when many students nationwide will take a vow of silence to bring attention to the silencing effect that many LGBTQ kids experience due to bullying and harassment. On this day, students everywhere have an opportunity to use silence as a powerful tool to protest the crippling silence that LGBTQ kids go through due to fear, threat, and overall feelings of not being accepted for who they are. In this case, a day of silence can lead to a lifetime of justice, and in some cases, can even save a life.

I feel sad when every generation chooses to segregate another group of people because of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or whatever is claimed as different. This causes unnecessary hurt and pain. Life is hard as it is. I’d appreciate it if people would love themselves a little bit more, because by doing so people would have the capacity to love others as well.